Changing with the times

By Adam McArthur

There is a point in everyone’s life where we either go with what we think is right, or what we think is popular. Whether it’s the first day of high school and you’re too “fly,” “hip,” or “dope” for your previous crew or you stuck up for your buddy, for no other reason than they were your buddy. What is popular and what is right aren’t consistent or connected.


The Church of England is a prime example of going pop for the sake of pop, specifically with the appointment of Rev. Gene Robinson as Bishop of the New Hampshire Diocese. Robinson is the first openly homosexual bishop in a major Christian denomination.


This has understandably been the cause of much fuss amongst the members of the church, as many feel that this lifestyle choice is incompatible with scripture and the teachings of the church. As a result, members worldwide are now torn, with many claiming that they are willing to sever ties with the church.


I agree with members wishing to split due to the recent Anglican decisions.


It is not the purpose of religious groups and leaders to hop on bandwagons. The Anglican Church has a responsibility to stand fast in their beliefs long held by their members and leaders. They honestly believe God disapproves of homosexuals and therefore would never want one serving as a bishop. A successful institution needs to be able to transcend the trends and display they have faith in their beliefs.


Why would I have my worship lead by someone who is willing to bend with the opinion polls?


The appointment of Robinson is part of a recent wave of change in policy. The Anglican Church of Canada received much criticism from many of the 77.5 million members worldwide for blessing same-sex marriage.


Many believers feel shifting to a cultural-based agenda will stray from practicing the word of God as they understand it. These people are not wrong. The church has always been exclusionary by nature, and this is why the separation of church and state is central to maintaining a reasonably just society. It should not be the responsibility of Church leaders to bow to the rest of society. Faith is belief in the face of dissent, challenges and fear, none of which can shake the foundation.


I do not understand how the Anglican members who supported this action stand to benefit. Are they trying to be a more friendly neighbourhood association? Drum up new members and more money?


I refuse to believe that even the most liberal members of the hierarchy have gone soft on homosexuals. The chances of an actual swing in interpreting scripture does not exist. They still believe that God disapproves of gays, but do they really care enough to follow those beliefs anymore?


The potential split in the Anglican Church is not the end of the world by any stretch of the imagination, but perhaps it lends merit to Robinson’s comments on CBC Sunday Report this past week.


"White men have been in charge for a long time," he mused. "Perhaps the jig is up."


There is definitely some merit in his statement. Perhaps some Anglican leaders are buying into the idea that not everything they once thought was true remains true. Yesterday’s pop, isn’t today’s pop, and tomorrow will be something completely different.